UGC brings out new rules against caste discrimination
SOCIAL – EDUCATION
15 JANUARY 2026
- The University Grants Commission (UGC) has notified University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026 to address caste-based discrimination in higher education institutions across the country, updating 2012 rules.
- A draft version of the updated rules was put out by the UGC for public suggestions in February last year, inviting widespread criticism for the way it kept the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) outside the ambit of caste-based discrimination and the lack of specificity in the way it defined discrimination.
- Further, the draft version of the regulations proposed a provision to “discourage” false complaints of discrimination, suggesting fines for such complaints.
- In the final notified version of the rules, the UGC has included OBCs within the ambit of “caste-based discrimination” and dropped the provision on false complaints.
- UGC mandates the setting up of equal opportunity centres (EOC) in each institution, to promote “equity and equal opportunity to the community at large in the higher education institutions (HEIs) and to bring about social inclusion”.
- Under these, an equity committees is mandated to be set up on campuses and punishments specified, which can range from being debarred from offering degrees or programmes, for non-compliance.
- These equity committees, chaired by the head of the institution, must have the representation of OBCs, persons with disabilities, SCs, STs, and women, the regulations said.
- While the EOC will be expected to submit a bi-annual report of its functioning, the equity committees have been mandated to meet at least twice a year.
